097 | Why You Are Struggling with Self-Doubt as a Leader—And How to Overcome It!

Have you ever found yourself questioning if you’re the right person for the job? Wondering if you’re really equipped to lead?

You’re not alone!

Self-doubt is one of the biggest struggles for leaders—especially women of faith.

But here’s the good news: God hasn’t called you to lead without equipping you.

Today, we’re talking about why leaders struggle with self-doubt and, more importantly, how to overcome it!

 

Why do leaders struggle so much with self-doubt?

1. Comparison Trap
It’s easy to look at other leaders and think, ‘She’s more experienced, more confident, more capable than me.’ But comparison is the enemy of confidence. God didn’t call you to be her—He called you to be you.

• Biblical example: Think about Moses. He doubted his ability to lead and even tried to push the responsibility onto Aaron (Exodus 4:10-13). But God assured him, “I will be with you.”

 

2. Fear of Failure
What if I mess up? What if I let people down? What if I’m not enough? Fear of failure paralyzes so many leaders. But failure isn’t final—God redeems every mistake.

• Biblical example: Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus still chose him to lead the early church.

 

3. Imposter Syndrome—Feeling Unqualified
Many leaders feel like they don’t belong in the role they’re in. Maybe you’ve thought, ‘Who am I to lead others?’ But remember, God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.

• Biblical example: Esther was an orphan girl turned queen, and she likely felt unqualified to stand before the king. Yet she boldly stepped into her purpose.

 

How to Overcome Self-Doubt

💡 1. Shift Your Focus from Yourself to God
Confidence in leadership doesn’t come from your skills or experience alone—it comes from knowing who called you. When Moses doubted, God didn’t give him a pep talk about his abilities. Instead, He said, ‘I will be with you.’ (Exodus 3:12)

• Action Step: Start each day reminding yourself that you are called and equipped by God.

 

💡 2. Speak Truth Over Yourself
What voices are you listening to? The enemy loves to whisper, ‘You’re not good enough.’ But what does God say? ‘You are fearfully and wonderfully made.’ (Psalm 139:14)

• Action Step: Write down 3 truths about your leadership and declare them daily. Example:

1. I am called to lead with purpose.
2. God has given me everything I need for this season.
3. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

 

💡 3. Take Small, Bold Steps
Self-doubt fades when you take action in faith. Confidence isn’t the absence of fear—it’s trusting God in spite of fear.

• Action Step: Identify one bold leadership move you can make this week, even if it feels small—speaking up in a meeting, mentoring someone, or simply saying ‘yes’ to an opportunity.

Have a listener question?

Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com

 

Next steps: 

1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can:

• Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. 
• Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers.

2. If you need any support, you can get in contact with me for a 1:1 coaching session. Just email me at support@rikawhelan.com

3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan

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